I think I told you how much I loved the bass from this transmission line design! I don't know that it is the T-L, but one way or another, it is very nice bass!
You probably already know this, but there is an easy setup you can use for comparing because your AVR will maintain settings unique to each input!
Your BDP X700 has two HDMI outputs (#2 is audio only, if it is like my X800).
So take 2 HDMI cables and plug HDMI Output #1 into the Marantz BD input and #2 into the DVD input.
Check to make sure that with the BD input selected you have retained all of the settings you use with your X13's active.
Then switch to DVD input and change the settings to just play the Phil3's.
Double check it, but you should now have your Phil3 w/subs on BD and Phil3 w/o subs on DVD.
Likely the volume level may require minor adjustment, but otherwise you have a pretty effective A-B switch by selecting which input.
I would consider it a no-brainer that you will prefer the subs for movies/LFE, but try it to see the differences (although I guess you will lose video when you switch to DVD since the Sony output HDMI #2 is Audio only).
I also expect you will prefer the subs for music with synthesized bass, but again try it to see what differences you detect not only in frequency range, but also in character of the bass (which may influence what frequency you ultimately decide to cross them at).
In theory, most if not all of the music you used to audition the Phil3's above should be within the Phil3's range. I don't remember Melody Gardot doing anything extra-low, but she does get more experimental in her later albums! So this is one of those classic questions: If your speakers are full range and you do not play them beyond their SPL limits, or play music with unusually low notes, do subwoofers add anything? Of course there are too many factors like the location of your bass sources (subs and speakers) to have a conclusive conclusion, but you can certainly decide for your setup.
I just love that these AVR's have this ability. It is almost like you can have two different systems for two different genres of music if you like. I use this setup to throw in some extra bass (increased sub volume) which I enjoy for HT and to reduce the bass for music.
No rush, but I am hoping you will play with this in the future and decide if there is any content where you would actually drop the subs or whatever observations you have along the path. I especially appreciate your evaluation, because you are so familiar with the live sounds of the instruments!
One more observation:
Looking at the gear in your signature (after you update it) just makes me proud! Not just of myself (though I am),but of Audioholics, and the fact that someone like you can come here and ask questions and end up with such a great system with fantastic sound quality and for a very reasonable price. You could have paid so much more and still not come close to such a good system.
Much of the credit goes to you! Not many have the patience and willingness to really pay attention and do the research. So often someone is convinced that they need to get the high dollar amp recently reviewed positively in Absolute Sound. Many would need to get the 7012 instead of the 6012! Or they just want to buy something from their local store and bring it home today! The leap of faith to buy speakers from Dennis is a bit of a stretch - I mean this is just some old-fart retired accountant working out of his house, what the fu¢k would
he know about speakers! Many people need to be able to say a brand name (like Bose?
) that their friends will recognize and agree are "the best". You had the intuition (?) to recognize many of the guys here are not just buddies of Dennis trying to push your money his way (as if Dennis is walking away with wads of cash). You took the time to find and listen to Dennis' speakers in your area, and (something many would not be able to do is) you immediately recognized just how exceptionally good they are! So bravo to you for taking your time, being thorough, and understanding what you were getting before you bought it!
I probably should re-frame this, we have had several people who end up with great systems for their situation. You are unique in that you were looking for a top level system right out of the gate - generally someone comes here, gets a good system and optionally upgrades it over time to an upper level system over several years and a couple of iterations. You went straight for "the top"!
But thank you for helping us (AH) be our best! Like I say, it makes me proud!!!
